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Beating Heroin

All Treatments Lead to Recovery and Sober Living

Heroin is a brutal drug. It starts out easy but before long, it can take over your life. Those in successful recovery typically use multiple treatment methods in order to get and stay clean. However, medical treatments like Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol are typically only needed for a short period of time while others are utilized for much longer. There is no shame in using any kind of treatment, whether it be medical or otherwise. Ultimately, there are many roads to recovery and as long as each treatment is used correctly (more on this in other sections) they all support the same goal of living a sober and healthy life. Those traveling any road to recovery should be proud and anybody attempting to dishonor a particular treatment method or the person using it should be ashamed of themselves.

Counseling

Both individual and group counseling are highly recommended and in many cases vital to ensure successful recovery. We recommend both but individual counseling can be expensive unless it’s part of an all inclusive heroin treatment program typically found in some medical assistance treatment programs (namely Methadone). Group counseling is also highly effective and there are many organizations dedicated to helping those addicted to drugs and alcohol successfully recover. Two examples include NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous. These important programs developed the “12 Step” approach to recovery and has been successfully helping drug users conquer their addiction for decades.

Medical Treatment

Medical assisted treatment can be a valuable tool in helping men and women struggling with heroin and opiate addiction. Popular medical treatments include Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol (Naltrexone). Like any medicine, each medical treatment for opiates comes with a list of advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation about each treatment. Thus, this website community intends to debunk the myths and educate visitors on the realities of medical treatment.

The Importance of Long Term Commitment

Because drug addiction is a lifelong disease, addiction can only be sent into remission, never entirely beaten. Thus, even after 10 years of successful treatment, recovering addicts are still vulnerable to the possibility of slipping or relapse. In fact, several stories presented by community members on our Facebook page have demonstrated this. Sadly, many of the stories have come from family members since the addict (successful in recovery for 10 years) died after either slipping or relapsing. Those in recovery should be warned that both “slipping” and “relapsing” are very dangerous and while there is usually hope of recovery afterwards, there are those who simply don’t make it either because they refused to quit their drug of choice or fell back into it.

Dangers of Using Benzodiazepines, Cocaine or Other Illegal Drugs

While this page is devoted to heroin addiction, treatment and recovery, the word “recovery” is not just about beating heroin and/or opiates – it’s about living a life of sobriety and staying away from all illegal / harmful drugs. Combining heroin, opiates or even any of the aforementioned treatments like Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol with Benzodiazepines (Benzos), excessive alcohol use, Cocaine, Fentanyl, etc. can be deadly. In fact, many people combine medical treatment with some of the above mentioned illegal drugs in an attempt to recreate the “high” or elated feeling heroin or “dope” creates while still claiming they’re in “recovery”. But using other illegal harmful drugs while using whatever recovery / treatment method you’ve selected is not true recovery. It can also lead to death.

Heroin / Opiates and Marijuana

Marijuana (Weed, Pot, etc.) is highly controversial when it comes to “recovery”. Some feel that marijuana is a similar equivalent to smoking cigarettes and should have no impact on recovery one way or another. There are others who believe that a true “recovering” addict should and will not smoke marijuana. Similarly there is a debate as to whether or not marijuana is addicting and whether or not there are any short or long term affects to the drug. This website recognizes the controversy and has no real position on the matter other than the below.

Marijuana is indeed a mind altering drug and is still illegal in most states. Thus, to be legally responsible, we advise people to abide by the law and not smoke. However, those who feel they must smoke should do their best to be responsible while under the influence. Similar to drinking alcohol, those under the influence of marijuana are advised not to operate or drive a car and/or any other vehicle that could potentially cause harm to one’s self or others. Marijuana has a tendency to slow down one’s responses, reflexes and thoughts. Thus, it is also advised not to make any life altering decisions while under the influence.

Conclusion

Recovery isn’t easy but it is possible. Typically a combination of support, counseling and medical treatment (if appropriate) is the best way to conquer heroin addiction. To learn more about specific medical treatments, click on one of the links below: